ECOWAS revises human security index to tackle security, development challenges in West Africa

The ECOWAS Early Warning Directorate met on November 29, 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria, to review and approve the ECOWAS Human Safety Index (EHSI). The aim of the session was to refine the indicators on the board to ensure they comprehensively reflect the realities of the West African region.

The EHSI is designed to monitor vulnerabilities and human safety resilience in five thematic areas: crime and criminality, health, environment, security and governance. Their goals include measuring levels of human safety, supporting policy development, improving government accountability, and attracting investment and partnerships.

In her remarks, the Acting Director of the Early Warning Directorate of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Onyinge Nkechi ONWUKA, stressed the strategic importance of the EHSI, stating that “The ECOWAS Human Security Index that we are developing is not just a tool but a strategic framework to tackle the challenges multidimensional challenges facing our region.

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It’s a cornerstone for action, linking data-driven perceptions to tangible, impactful interventions. ”

Dr. Onwuka noted that by leveraging on EHSI, ECOWAS aims to deepen understanding of key factors of human insecurity, improve capacity to assess vulnerabilities and resilience mechanisms, and support quantitative forecasting and predictive analysis to drive informed and effective response planning.

Discussions during the working sessions focused on refining the index dimensions and sub-dimensions to ensure they adequately capture the challenges faced by ECOWAS Member States. Participants also highlighted how EHSI indicators align with the ECOWARN system and how these can be used for a more coordinated approach to early warning efforts across the region.

In addition, they revised the existing framework to better serve policy makers, civil society and other stakeholders.

The session brought together key representatives from several ECOWAS Directions, including Peacekeeping and Regional Security, Policy Affairs, Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Human Development and Social Affairs, as well as partners from UNOWAS and WANEP.